What is it?
You’re looking at the Smart Fortwo CDI, the most economical production car on sale anywhere in the world today.
Available from spring next year, the new Smart Fortwo diesel grabs headlines with its tiny direct-injection engine. This diminutive unit returns 85.6 mpg and pumps out a groundbreaking 88g/km of CO2.
That makes the Smart Fortwo CDI exempt of road tax in the UK. It also means that, if you drive one, you’ll rarely pay a visit to the fuel pumps.
What’s it like?
Perhaps the question should be can it keep up with traffic?
When you find out that the 800cc three-cylinder diesel produces a miserly 44bhp and discover that its takes forever to reach 62mph (well, 19.8 seconds) you have to wonder.
But this, of course, is a car for urban use and it offers enough zip to cope below 45mph. When was the last time you hit 65mph in central London anyway?
On the motorway, with a top speed limited to 85mph, the Fortwo CDI feels immediately overwhelmed. It will struggle where a petrol-powered Smart would not. You’re better off staying in town.
The CDI is part of Smart’s new range of upgraded Fortwos, which have all been significantly improved. The Smart really does feel like a mini-Mercedes now.
The ride is suppler, it will handle, it’s safer, with more airbags, there’s slightly more room inside, so it’s more comfortable and the automated manual gearbox works much better.
Should I buy one?
All in, there’s plenty to recommend an ultra-economical Smart car in these tight financial times.
The CDI is not as flexible as its petrol siblings, but it will work perfectly as a second car provided it rarely leaves city limits.
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Re: Smart Fortwo cdi
Reminds me of when I owned a Daf 33, 750cc horizontal aircooled twin. in the mid seventies. Very light weight, rear wheel drive, CVT belt drive, very simple and cheap.
Re: Smart Fortwo cdi
I have a 45bhp cdi, recently did a trip from Bristol, via Chalgrove (Oxfordshire) to Dover and then on to Saarbrucken in Germany - all on one 34litre fill up, 563 miles!
To tell if it's a 45 or a 54 cdi, the 45's only came in Passion trim and had a "normal" radio/cd. The 54 is available in Pulse trim or if it's a Passion then it'll have a Pioneer satnav/radio unit.
As i'm sure most know, http://www.thesmartclub.com is the place to be for smart related stuff.
Re: Smart Fortwo cdi
Funny this blog should pop up again today, I currently have an 06 model (old shape) of the fortwo and all I use it for is nipping to the shops and too and from work. Its perfect, but today I thought maybe i should go and try out one of the new diesels, id probably only have to fill up once a month. I here the diesel engine has been upgraded, when was this? As id like the more powerful version but dont want to buy new.